Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired (a) Millo [in] the (b) city of David, and made (c) darts and shields in abundance.

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] (f) against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his (g) altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

(g) Thus the wicked put no difference between true religion and false, God and idols: for Hezekiah only destroyed idolatry and replaced it with true religion. Thus the papists slander the servants of God: for when they destroy idolatry, they say that they abolish religion.

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of (i) mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

(i) When man has prosperity, he swells in pride, and thinks himself able to resist and overcome even God himself.

And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and (o) captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his (p) own bowels slew him there with the sword.

Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to (u) try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.

(u) Here we see the reason why the faithful are tempted, which is to determine whether they have faith or not, and that they may feel the presence of God who does not allow them to be overcome by temptations, but in their weakness administers strength.